If the District of Columbia had been destroyed in 1812, would a new federal district be established?

Obviously the nation would have to pick a new capital following the destruction of Washington [Let's assume Philidelphia is chosen] But to avoid giving any one state control over this new city, would another federal district be established? What would this district be called?
 
If the damage is bad enough they could just move up River and relocate back to Philadelphia.
 
If the damage is bad enough they could just move up River and relocate back to Philadelphia.
The South... wouldn't like that. Most likely they just rebuild it where it was due to the nature of the compromise that established it in the first place.
 

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The South... wouldn't like that. Most likely they just rebuild it where it was due to the nature of the compromise that established it in the first place.

Though they would have Philly be the capital temporarily during said reconstruction.

Or Baltimore. Actually, Baltimore would be best.
 
Though they would have Philly be the capital temporarily during said reconstruction.

Or Baltimore. Actually, Baltimore would be best.
Yeah, they would probably move it up to Baltimore during the war and then rebuild D.C. once it was over. But, to answer the OP's request, if Philadelphia is chosen as the new capital, a new district would most likely have to be created.

Boring, but it would probably be just be Philadelphia, District of Columbia, commonly referred to as D.C. However, I could see the district being something other than Columbia. Maybe New Columbia. Or the District of Brotherhood as a play on Philadelphia's name. Possibly the District of Washington. In either of those cases, it would be still referred to as Philadelphia or "the capital," as "D.W." doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, and "D.B" sounds... off somehow.
 
Pennsylvania isn't going to give up its most populous city--not by a longshot, and the Feds cannot force them to, especially in this era.

When Philadelphia was the capital of the US, it was still a part of Pennsylvania (and the capital of the state as well.) The principle that the Capital had to be its own district was a result of land granted by Virginia and Maryland that was largely unimportant to either state (and the Virginia portion was 'returned' to Virginia in time anyway.
 
There wasn't much there, so it's not like rebuilding everything from scratch would have been too challenging. They might move back to Philly temporarily, but that wouldn't be for too long.
 
Pennsylvania isn't going to give up its most populous city--not by a longshot, and the Feds cannot force them to, especially in this era.

When Philadelphia was the capital of the US, it was still a part of Pennsylvania (and the capital of the state as well.) The principle that the Capital had to be its own district was a result of land granted by Virginia and Maryland that was largely unimportant to either state (and the Virginia portion was 'returned' to Virginia in time anyway.

The Federal district could just the Capital and its immediate surroundings, as has been suggested for DC statehood plans. The most logical location for a Capital building is the hill where the Art Museum stands OTL. A National Mall equivalent could stretch from there down towards Washington square (where Independence Hall stands), encompassing Penn (now the location of City Hall) and Logan squares. All the Federal buildings could be built along that axis.
 
The South... wouldn't like that. Most likely they just rebuild it where it was due to the nature of the compromise that established it in the first place.

There was a vote OTL that was very narrowly defeated in moving it back to Philadelphia. Had the destruction been more wholesale theres a good chance it passes and that becomes the new capital. I doubt Pennsylvania parts with its city willingly though, so there might never be a new federal district.

One other thing, once it's established, theres going to be massive incentives for the locals to keep it there. The financial sector won't have a clear leader in New York yet and I'd expect collusion between Philadelphia commerce and the federal government as well as construction firms involved with housing the government and building of new federal buildings.
 
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The Federal district could just the Capital and its immediate surroundings, as has been suggested for DC statehood plans. The most logical location for a Capital building is the hill where the Art Museum stands OTL. A National Mall equivalent could stretch from there down towards Washington square (where Independence Hall stands), encompassing Penn (now the location of City Hall) and Logan squares. All the Federal buildings could be built along that axis.
As someone who knows that part of Philadelphia like the back of their hand, I can honestly say that it would work incredibly well. The Art Museum is in a great location, and it is definitely large enough to fit a very large capital building in its place, and it is a decent spot for a national mall.
 
As someone who knows that part of Philadelphia like the back of their hand, I can honestly say that it would work incredibly well. The Art Museum is in a great location, and it is definitely large enough to fit a very large capital building in its place, and it is a decent spot for a national mall.

Plus if you survey a straight shot from the hill to Washington Square it will go right over Penn Square, like a longer JFK Boulevard.

People knew something should be done with that hill from the moment Billy Penn laid out the city. It’s a stunning location. The land was preserved from development until the Art Museum was thought up.
 
Since the location of the capital was part of the compromise to pay off debts from the Revolution (i.e., put the capital in the south, to get their agreement to the assumption of state debts by the federal government), I wonder if the southern states push for a new capital city even further south? If so, where would be likely candidates?
 
Since the location of the capital was part of the compromise to pay off debts from the Revolution (i.e., put the capital in the south, to get their agreement to the assumption of state debts by the federal government), I wonder if the southern states push for a new capital city even further south? If so, where would be likely candidates?
Richmond for maximum irony? Not likely, but still funny.
 
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